Braves Lose Two Young Arms to Elbow Surgeries, Ending Schwellenbach and Waldrep’s Seasons

The Atlanta Braves announced that Spencer Schwellenbach will undergo elbow surgery to remove loose bodies from the same fracture that sidelined him last year, likely ending his 2026 season, while Hurston Waldrep will have Tommy John surgery, ending both his 2026 and likely 2027 campaigns. The injuries further strain Atlanta’s pitching staff as they navigate a season already hit by arm issues, with a rotation that includes Sale, Mahle, Elder, Pérez and Smith-Shawver and uncertainty around Strider’s return.